Why are people so pessimistic?

Why are some people so negative towards everything in life? What sorts of events lead them to be this way? Positivity leads to a better or happier life and everyone knows that but still ignore the fact and remain pessimistic. Y

Apr 11 2013:
Hi Ajay.
I think that being pessimistic is a form of self defense against disappointment. The down side to this method is that too much negative thinking breeds negative outcomes therefor instead of it being a defense, it becomes self destructive.

People are pessimistic because they are right.
Maybe optimistic people are happier than negative people, but there's a big diffrence between being pessimstic and being negative. Pessmistic people invest better, take less foolish risks, go to the doctor at a regular basis, and generally are more willing to face the harsh reallity:
So far, almost everybody who ever born, also died.
Most people who try, fail.
The people in charge are fools.
We live on one star out of 8 (bye bye pluto), in a solar system whitch is one out of a houndred billion, in a galaxy witch is one out of a billion. We are farely new and at war with ourselves.

I'm a positive pessimistic: I might die, but enjoy life. I might fail, but worse is not trying. We have to change the people in charge, because I'm affraid of what happen if not.

Apr 12 2013:
Brcause even tough I know that the future is gloomy, and sometimes even the present, I am still happy and enjoying my life.
You can be a positive pessimistic in many ways:

- In a hedonistic way:
Commandor: "Eat, drink and f**k, because tommorow we die".

- In an indiffrence way:
Doc:"You might die" patient : "So? eventually so are you".

- (and this is my personal favorite) In a way to make it the meaning of life:
Optimistic: "I'm sure global warming would be fixed". Pessimistic: "Most people don't really care, I would make it my life goal to fix global warming, because even though my chances are slim, I have no other option". This might not sound happy, but people who feel their life have meaning are verey much happy.

Apr 11 2013:
Because they are not willing to open their eyes and take a look at the beautiful world around us that we were blessed with!

Inside us all is the option to be loving, considerate and grateful yet so many of us seem to switch this off, which leads us to influence those around us to do the same. Life can be too chaotic and stressful to stop and realise that your stress levels are up to the roof and you are not happy - But happiness is (in my eyes) the ultimate goal of everything! So whenever you find yourself at this point, do something unselfish, offering a hand to someone who needs it, show appreciation, and most importantly SMILE. The reward of seeing it change the 'pessimism' bubbling in those around you will be enough of a reward! Maybe one day we can help to spread a bit more happiness into the lives of those around us and reap the rewards of doing so. Then those who we've helped can return the favour of reminding us to be happy on the days we need it.
It is amazing the impact a positive frame of mind can have, so let yourself be happy!
:)
xoxox

Apr 11 2013:
As you write "negative towards everything in life," it sounds like you don't mean situations in which one expects poor outcomes on the basis of experience with similar situations. Example: if junior drops a glass from a three foot height...

I believe personality traits, including this one, are thought to be partly inherited and partly the result of life experiences, particularly early life experiences. For example, depression, as well as bipolar illness, run in families.

This is not to say that people cannot learn to be more positive or hopeful but only that people may have early dispositions one way or another that show themselves early.

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